Speaker cable length

To be honest, I don't think unequal lengths could damage your equipment.

However, if you want to have some 'easy of mind', I would stick with two equal lenghts. Otherwise, every now and then you'd ask yourself the question: "What if ..." 

Put one speaker (5-2=) 3m further away than the other. Then all the differences even out.

Unequal lengths will not cause damage - they will just sound different.

Longer lengths have a lower bass articulation frequency and sound smoother - and short lengths sound faster and brighter.

For good image you want them the same length.

You need to hear it a few times to believe it, so I'm not going to give an explanation - it is there but really not worthwhile, it is easy to hear.

I prefer longer cable lengths, with NAC A5: 4m too fast/busy, 5m reasonable, 6m far better, 8m even better - longer lengths gave better control and more confident effortless relaxed sound.

I eventually when for 7m SL leads and they work fine - longer wound be better but was not worth the expense when you are running Active!

These are just how I hear it and for consideration - I've always suggested people experiment and form their own opinion.

DB.

There may be subtle differences in the sound on each channel.

However there may be a different problem with 2m, depending on the tweeters in the speakers.  If these present a capacitative load, 2m may not give enough inductance to stabilise the poweramp: This is why Naim specify a minimum of 3.5m of NAC A5 (which gives 3.5μH of inductance).

I can't tell you if this is going to be a problem as I don't know the precise stability limits of a NAP250DR, or the electrical equivalent circuit of your speakers, or the electrical characteristics of the Chord speaker cables.

Thanks those who have taken the time to reply.

I think on balance I'll go with equal 5m lengths, particularly as if I ever decide to switch to another cable the trade in value of 2 x 5m will be much greater than uneven lengths.

I would still be interested in reading a plausible explanation as to why the sound heard by the listener would be different. I know it's not exactly comparing like with like, but years ago when I had a Teac Reference 500 AV system feeding Kef KHT 2005 eggs and sub woofer, all the cables were of different lengths, and I was never aware of any difference in the quality or 'type' of sound - perhaps you sometimes only become aware of what you are listening for when it's pointed out to you? Perhaps ignorance truly is bliss sometimes!

If one assumes that speaker cables have an effect on the sound of a system, this must be caused by one or more of the physical (mechanical or electrical) properties of that cable.  Therefore a 5m cable will exert 2.5 times the modifying influence that a 2m cable will exert, no matter what form the influence takes.

N.B. this does not show that the resultant effect of that influence will appear to be 2.5 times as great, just that the influence itself is 2.5 times as strong.

I had just written to Chord just recently on this with my intention to use 4m on one side and 5m on the other side. Nigel responded by saying that although it will likely work out fine, they couldn't recommend it as Naim amps are rather sensitive and equal length cables would be the best. 

The cable presents a capacitive and inductive load which is dependant on length. The amplifier could be designed to ignore these but Naim amps have always regarded the speaker cable as part of the amplifier. I believe the newer amps are less sensitive, but the NAP 250 has its roots way back, so personally I would use equal lengths.

you should not coil the spare because that adds further inductance. The Naim advice is to make the spare cable into a zigzag and tape it on the middle. This way the inductance added by each zig is cancelled by the next zag.

best

David